Posey Pushes Algae Bloom Research Funding Through Congress
WASHINGTON,
DC – Today Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) helped usher through
the House of Representatives bipartisan legislation (S.1254) to reauthorize and enhance
research into the causes of algae blooms and hypoxia events which are
harmful to natural habitats like the Indian River Lagoon located along Florida's East Coast. Posey
partnered with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) to amend
the bill on June 5th in the House Science Committee to better enhance
the coordination research across federal, state and local agencies to
avoid duplication and ensure better accountability of resources.
“This
bipartisan, bicameral legislation will reauthorize robust funding for
important research leading
us to a better understanding of the causes, effects and steps we can
take to prevent and address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events,”
said Congressman Posey. “The overall health and water quality of our
Indian River Lagoon and all of our nation’s waters
will be improved with this important legislation.”
Specifically,
the bill will reauthorize $20.5 million per year through 2018 for the
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to distribute as grants to local
governments and organizations to conduct research into algae blooms and
hypoxia events.
Recent algal blooms have had an adverse impact on the
Indian River Lagoon’s health which is evident in
the loss of more than 47,000 acres of sea grass since the spring of
2011. The lagoon has also experienced a number of unexplained fish
kills, along with manatee, dolphin and pelican deaths.
“This bill gives researchers another tool to help us better understand, anticipate, control, and mitigate
harmful algal blooms like those we have seen in the Indian River Lagoon and in communities across the country,” said Posey.
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